A fluid-driven hatch for a bulk material container includes a cover is opened by a fluid-driven cover actuator and secured by a fluid-driven lock actuator. A fluid conduit connects both the fluid-driven cover actuator and the fluid-driven lock actuator to a pressurized fluid source. Pressurized fluid is selectively supplied to the fluid conduit such that the fluid-driven lock actuator is actuated at a first pressure to unlock the cover, and the fluid-driven cover actuator is actuated moments later at a second, higher pressure to open the cover.

The present disclosure provides a hinge, a freight container that includes the hinge and a freight container that includes a locking rod and optionally the hinge. The hinge includes a locking pin, a first wing, a second wing and a first hinge pin that pivotally connects the first wing to the second wing. The hinge further includes a pair of hinge lugs each having a first set of surfaces defining openings through which a second hinge pin passes and at least one of the pair of hinge lugs having a surface defining an opening through which a locking pin reversibly travels.

A counterbalance hinge assembly includes a cam and compression device that counterbalances a weight of a door or a ramp. The compression device biases against a rotation of the door or ramp. The downward movement of the door or ramp drives cam followers in angled slots or cam surfaces of the cam. The angled slots or cam surfaces include varying angles of incline to correspond to varying torque forces of the door or ramp during the opening or closing movement of the door or ramp.

A system and method for operation of an autonomous vehicle (AV) yard truck is provided. A processor facilitates autonomous movement of the AV yard truck, and connection to and disconnection from trailers. A plurality of sensors are interconnected with the processor that sense terrain/objects and assist in automatically connecting/disconnecting trailers. A server, interconnected, wirelessly with the processor, that tracks movement of the truck around and determines locations for trailer connection and disconnection. A door station unlatches/opens rear doors of the trailer when adjacent thereto, securing them in an opened position via clamps, etc. The system computes a height of the trailer, and/or if landing gear of the trailer is on the ground and interoperates with the fifth wheel to change height, and whether docking is safe, allowing a user to take manual control, and optimum charge time(s). Reversing sensors/safety, automated chocking, and intermodal container organization are also provided.

An exemplary system for covering an open bed of a trailer generally includes an armature movable between an open position and a closed position, a cover connected with the armature such that the bed is exposed when the armature is in the open position and is covered by the cover when the armature is in the closed position, an actuator operably connected with the armature, control circuitry operable to control the actuator to move the armature between the open position and the closed position. The control circuitry includes a wireless communication device, is configured to control the actuator to move the armature toward the open position in response to receiving an open command via the wireless communication device, and is configured to control the actuator to move the armature toward the closed position in response to receiving a close command via the wireless communication device.

A trailer door system that comprises at least one trailer door assembly operably engaged with the trailer; and at least one driving assembly operably engaged with the trailer and the at least one trailer door assembly. The at least one driving assembly further comprises an expansion assembly operably engaged with the at least one trailer door assembly. The at least one driving assembly further comprises a rotary actuator operably engaged with the expansion assembly, wherein the rotary actuator is configured to transition the expansion assembly between a collapsed position and an expanded position for pivoting the at least one trailer door assembly between a closed position and an opened position about an axis parallel to a vertical axis defined by the trailer. A trailer monitoring system may be included with the trailer door system for automating the state of the trailer during a towing operation.

A door operator assembly is configured to raise and lower a cargo door of a cargo enclosure. The assembly includes a power and control unit mounted on an exterior of the cargo enclosure. The power and control unit includes a motor, a coupler operatively connecting the motor to a torsion assembly of the cargo door, a manual release mechanism for actuating the coupler to connect and disconnect the motor and the torsion assembly of the cargo door, and a control circuit for the motor. The assembly may also include an operating switch disposed on the exterior of the cargo enclosure.

An embodiment vehicle door opening structure includes a first door unit positioned at a side of a vehicle and including a first door, a second door unit including a second door positioned adjacent to the first door, a locking device configured to selectively lock the first door unit and the second door unit together, and a controller configured to fix the locking device so that the first door unit and the second door unit are configured to be opened together or to release the locking device so that the first door unit and the second door unit are configured to be opened independently.

A vacuum system for use in excavation operations. The system uses a tank having an open end that is closed by a door. The door is opened and closed by a door lifting assembly made up of an upper linkage arm, a lower linkage arm and a hydraulic cylinder. A socket is formed in the upper linkage arm, and a shaft housing is formed in the lower linkage arm. The shaft housing engages with the socket to latch the door closed. The upper linkage arm is attached to the door at a first pivot axis and is attached to the lower linkage arm at a second pivot axis. The lower linkage arm is attached to a side of the tank at a third pivot axis. When the door is open, the second pivot axis extends below a reference plane that contains the first and third pivot axis.

Embodiments of systems and methods for operating a power tailgate system are disclosed. A vehicle includes a rotatable element structured for operable connection with, and disconnection from, a tailgate when the rotatable element resides in a predetermined tailgate removal orientation. A motor is connected with the rotatable element for interdependent movement, and a motor circuit is provided for the motor. During a driving event, the system identifies when no tailgate is connected with the rotatable element. If no tailgate is connected with the rotatable element, the system determines if the rotatable element resides in the predetermined tailgate removal orientation. If the rotatable element resides in the predetermined tailgate removal orientation, the system may check the rotatable element against rotation during the driving event by operating a motor circuit to electrically brake the motor to prevent the rotatable element from rotating out of the predetermined tailgate removal orientation.